"What?! Many of my toys are also machines?" That's right—simple machines! Simple machines are everywhere! Under your feet when you climb stairs, in your hand when you use a utensil to eat your dinner, even in your arm when you throw a ball. Come visit this science fair project and explore the six types of simple machines. Find out how many are hiding under the hinged lid (yes, another simple machine) of your toy box!
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Do you love animals and want to help keep them healthy? Well, here's your chance to design and tailor a toy that will bring out your pet's most playful nature. In this science fair project, you'll evaluate the skills and activities of your pet and determine what kinds of toys most excite your pet and make him or her lively and curious. So call your furry or feathered friend, and let the frolicking begin!
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Zoo_p051

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

You will need to work with a pet that you are very familiar with.

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Adult supervision is required when testing enrichment toys. Pet safety must be considered at all times. All toys must be made from non-toxic materials. You should be familiar with the pet you are working with.

Did you know that the United States jump rope record for the greatest number of jumps in a minute is 367! That's more than six jumps a second! How close do you think you can get to that number? If you're going to try to break the record, it might be important to figure out how jump rope length affects your success. Try your hand at this skipping science fair project and jump-start your chances for a jump rope record.
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Sports_p051

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Time Required

Very Short (≤ 1 day)

Prerequisites

To complete this science fair project, you'll either need to know how to jump rope, or be willing to learn how.

Are you good at tossing a Frisbee®? It is great when you throw a perfect, arcing curve, right on target! If you can do that, you have already trained your arm on the aerodynamics of Frisbee flight. Why not treat your brain to some Frisbee science with this project?
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Aero_p010

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Time Required

Short (2-5 days)

Prerequisites

You should know the basics of throwing a Frisbee (i.e., be able to play catch with a friend).

Tilt-A-Whirls, Merry-Go-Rounds, Spinning Tea Cups...does just the thought of them make you dizzy? Why should something so fun make our heads spin so long even after the ride has stopped? Learn about spins, turns, and the mixed signals that fire in our brains when the sensation of dizziness takes over. Weak stomachs, beware. This project has tests that will make your head spin!
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Have you ever been to an animal show and seen a sea lion balance a ball on his nose, or a tiger jump through a hoop? Or maybe you've met dogs who can sit, fetch, shake, or beg on command. The range of tricks that you can teach animals is amazing, but how does animal training work, and how long does it take? Find out in this trick-and-treat filled science fair project!
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MamBio_p025

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

For this science fair project you will need a pet that you can train on a daily basis.

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Adult supervision is required while you are working with the pet. Be sure you are very familiar with the pet and that you give the pet breaks when he or she seems bored or frustrated.

You might think that plants and animals have little in common with batteries, springs, or slingshots, but they actually do have something in common. Both living and non-living things store and transfer energy from one form to another. In this physics science fair project, you'll investigate this energy storage and transfer, not in a plant or animal, but in bouncy balls. You'll find out if there are limits on how much energy can be stored and if there are losses when the energy is transferred.
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The great majority of people have a distinct hand preference. How about animals like dogs or cats? Do they show a paw preference? If you like animals, this science fair project might be for you.
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MamBio_p011

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

To do this science fair project, you will need a good rapport with pets, and access to a large number of dogs (or cats).

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Adult supervision is required. Always get permission from the pet owner before testing paw preference.

Like to have the balance of a tightrope walker? Try the more close–to–the–ground balancing test in this easy experiment to learn a few trade secrets of the high wire experts. In this project, you'll find your center of gravity and explore the physics of balance at the same time. No net required for this balancing act!
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"Swing me higher, Mommy, higher!" Kids love to ride the swings at the playground. The back-and-forth motion of a swing demonstrates the physics of a pendulum. In this experiment, you will investigate the factors that affect the speed and duration of a pendulum's swing.
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